Pray in 2017: Day 1- Commit the Year to Jesus
“Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.” Psalm 4:3
Standing on the doorstep of 2017 we face a mysterious future. There is no telling what lies ahead. We could be facing either prosperity or calamity. We don't know if it will be a busy year or a quiet one. Possibly there will be great change or there could be more of the same.
What we do know: whether a major windfall or a bleak prognosis occurs, our Heavenly Father knows every moment and every event we will encounter. He is in charge and He will accomplish His purpose. He controls the future and He is already there.
- "remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'" (Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV)
Submitting ourselves to His care requires faith, trust, and quite a bit of humility. Personally, for me to let ANYONE be in charge- even the Lord of the Universe- involves me humbly stepping aside and following. It is NEVER easy.
- "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you," (1 Peter 5:6 ESV)
Today’s prayer will commit every day of 2017 to the will of the Lord. May He reign in our hearts and in our days.
- "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:13-15 ESV)
Following is a prayer to start the month. I have written out a prayer, but it is just to get you started. Think about what you are most concerned about, and/or excited about for 2017. Then commit those specific things to Jesus. He knows exactly what to do with them.
Let us give this year to Him.
Day 1 Prayer
Dear Lord,
On this first day of a new year, I want to commit every one of the next 365 days to You.
Thank You for already knowing the beginning of this year from the end.
I confess, not knowing what tomorrow will bring makes me a little nervous. But I submit myself under Your loving hand and Your sovereign will.
May You get the glory, may Your Kingdom be built, and may Your name be proclaimed through whatever You allow in my life in 2017. I give you every single month, week, day, hour, minute, and second.
I am Yours. My year is Yours. My life is Yours.
I ask You to help me be faithful in this first month to daily bring every part of my life to You, to do as You will.
To Your glory. Amen.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
(Psalm 69:13 ESV)
